Loading Content...
Affordable Housing Analysis in Zip Code 17538: LIHTC Projects and Demographic Trends
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Zip code 17538 in Pennsylvania, which includes the Salunga area, contains 84 units in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing projects. Of these, 75 are designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 6,419 and an estimated 2,459 housing units, LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 3.4% of the estimated housing inventory in this zip code.
The LIHTC projects in zip code 17538 have received $1,336,922 in tax credits, averaging about $15,916 per unit. This funding represents 0.22% of Pennsylvania's total LIHTC allocations, indicating a relatively small share of the state's affordable housing investments.
Affordable housing has been present in this zip code since at least 1998, with the completion of the Landisville Apts Phase II project. The most recent project, The Elms, was completed in 2018, demonstrating a 20-year span of LIHTC development in the area. The 2010s saw the most significant affordable housing development, with The Elms contributing 60 units to the inventory.
The LIHTC-funded housing stock in zip code 17538 consists primarily of one-bedroom (30 units), two-bedroom (33 units), and three-bedroom (21 units) apartments. The Elms project is designated for the Section 811 target population, which serves very low-income people with disabilities.
Over the past decade, zip code 17538 has experienced population growth, increasing from 5,909 in 2015 to 6,419 in 2022. Median income has fluctuated, reaching a high of $95,723 in 2021 before decreasing to $85,940 in 2022. The racial composition has become slightly more diverse, with the white population decreasing from 91% in 2015 to 84% in 2022, while Hispanic and Asian populations have seen small increases.
The completion of The Elms in 2018 aligns with this period of population growth and increasing diversity, suggesting a response to changing demographics and housing needs in the area.
The LIHTC program has contributed to the affordable housing stock in zip code 17538, with projects spanning two decades. While the current inventory represents a small portion of the estimated housing units, it provides housing options for low-income residents, including those with disabilities. The recent demographic trends of population growth and increasing diversity may indicate ongoing need for affordable housing in this area.
